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SPONSOR: Rep. K. Williams & Sen. Walsh
Rep. Michael Smith; Sens. Lockman, Mantzavinos
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 195
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BARTENDING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
1 Section 1. Amend § 904, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
2 insertions as shown by underline as follows:
3 § 904. Offenses concerning certain persons.
4 (g) Nothing in this section shall prevent the employment of a person, 14 years of age or older, in clubs with
5 authorized dining facilities, hotels, racetracks and restaurants licensed under this title, provided that such a person shall not
6 be involved in the sale or service of alcoholic liquor. that:
7 (1) A person may not be involved in the sale, service, or preparation of alcoholic liquor unless the person is 18
8 years of age or older.
9 (2) A person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old may be involved in the sale and service of alcoholic liquor but
10 may not be involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor unless directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age
11 or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old.
12 (h) Nothing in this section prevents any of the following:
13 (1) The employment of a person 18 years of age or older to prepare, sell, or serve alcoholic liquor to patrons
14 of establishments licensed under this title for the on-premises sale and consumption of alcoholic liquor. liquor,
15 provided that a person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old and is involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor is directly
16 supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-
17 old.
18 (2) The employment of a person 18 years or older to work in any capacity in a tavern or taproom, except a
19 person less than 21 years old may not prepare alcoholic liquor for patrons of a tavern or taproom. taproom. A person 18
20 years or older may sell or prepare, sell, or serve alcoholic liquor for patrons of a tavern or taproom. taproom, provided
21 that a person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old and is involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor is directly supervised
22 by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old.
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23 (3) A person 18 years of age or older to enter a tavern or taproom to pick up a food order for delivery through
24 a third-party delivery service.
25 (4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (h)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, a person under age 21 may not enter into or
26 work in any capacity in a tavern or taproom that offers sexually oriented entertainment. This includes all of the
27 following:
28 a. A tavern or taproom that is also licensed as an adult entertainment establishment under Chapter 16 of
29 Title 24.
30 b. A tavern or taproom that offers sexually explicit performances, as defined in § 787 of Title 11.
31 c. A tavern or taproom that is advertised as a “strip club,” “adult entertainment club,” “gentlemen’s club,”
32 or that offers performances or services of a sexually oriented nature.
33 (i) Nothing in this section shall prevent the employment of a person, 16 years of age or older, in a catering
34 business serving liquors, provided that such person shall not be engaged in the sale or service of alcoholic liquor. that:
35 (1) A person may not be involved in the sale, service, or preparation of alcoholic liquor unless the person is 18
36 years of age or older.
37 (2) A person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old may not be involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor unless
38 directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or
39 20-year-old.
40 (j) Nothing in this section shall prevent the employment of a person, 16 years of age or older, in a bowling
41 alley licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, provided that such person shall not be engaged in the sale or service of
42 alcoholic liquor. that:
43 (1) A person may not be involved in the sale, service, or preparation of alcoholic liquor unless the person is 18
44 years of age or older.
45 (2) A person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old may not be involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor unless
46 directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or
47 20-year-old.
48 Section 2. Amend § 1204, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
49 insertions as shown by underline as follows:
50 § 1204. Training standards and curriculum.
51 (d) Anyone required to undergo training in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, who has within the
52 previous 4 years 2 years successfully completed a responsible alcoholic beverage server training program which satisfies
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53 the requirements of the Commissioner, and is approved by the Commissioner, shall not be obligated to undertake additional
54 training until such time as the person is required to undergo renewal training in accordance with § 1205 of this title.
55 Section 3. Amend § 1205, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
56 insertions as shown by underline as follows:
57 § 1205. Certification and renewal training.
58 Every person who successfully completes an approved responsible alcoholic beverage server training program
59 shall be certified by the instructor as having met the requirements of this chapter. The course taught shall be either the
60 Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement course or any other Commissioner approved course. The instructor shall
61 provide the names of the persons who successfully complete the approved class, as well as such additional information that
62 is required by the Commissioner, to the Commissioner and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement. Such
63 certification shall be valid for a period of 4 years 2 years at which time the person must undergo renewal training in order to
64 obtain recertification which shall also be valid for a period of 4 years. 2 years. Renewal training shall include the
65 information described in § 1204 of this title and/or such other information as the Commissioner may by regulation require.
SYNOPSIS
This Act changes the age at which a person can bartend from 21 years old to 18 years old, and requires that a
bartender who is 18, 19, or 20 years old be directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is
working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old. This Act also increases the frequency of statutorily mandated
alcoholic beverage server training from every 4 years to every 2 years.
To ensure that 18–20-year-olds are protected from sexually oriented content by virtue of being permitted to
bartend, this Act prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from entering into or working in any capacity in a tavern or taproom
that offers sexually oriented entertainment. This includes taverns and taprooms that are licensed as adult entertainment
establishments under Chapter 16 of Title 24, taverns and taprooms that offer sexually explicit performances as defined in §
787 of Title 11, and tavern and taprooms that are advertised as “strip clubs,” “adult entertainment clubs,” “gentlemen’s
clubs,” or that offer performances or services of a sexually oriented nature.
Currently, Delaware is in the minority of states when it comes to requiring bartenders to be 21 years old. By
reducing the legal bartending age to 18, this Act will help Delaware’s food service industry remain competitive with the
many other states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in which 18–20-year-olds can bartend.
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